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In tho absence of Mr. Cholmondeley, the President of the Caradoc Club, 

 Mr. Ckaudus Wren Hoskyns presided. There was only time, however, after 

 the repast to give the thanks of the meeting to the able lecturers of the day, 

 ■which was done with a pleasant allusion to the ample scope for the differences 

 of Archwologists and their necessai-jly interminable nature. 



The Kev. Mr. La Touchk then distributed specimens of the Astrantia 

 major to such members as wished for a specimen of this rare wanderer, which has 

 become naturalized in the woods near Stokesay Castle. 



The visitors afterwards set off to inspect the ruins of the " Garde 

 Doloureuse," to which Kaymond Berenger invited Gwenwyn, the Prince of 

 Powys, as described in "The Betrothed "of Sir Walter Scott, "A place strong 

 by nature and well fortified by art, which the Welsh Prince had found it 

 impossible to conquer, either by open force or by stratagem, and which 

 remaining with a strong garrison in his rear, often checked his incursions, by 

 rendering his retreat precarious." Its situation is well given in the novel, "The 

 River, whose stream washes on three sides the base of the proud eminence on 

 which the castle is situated, curves away from the fortress and its corresponding 

 village on the west, and the hill sinks downwards to an extensive plain, so 

 extremely level as to indicate its alluvial origin." Clun Castle was built by 

 Fitzalan, afterwards Earl of Arundel, in the reign of Stephen, or in that of 

 Henry III. according to Camden. It was first taken and dismantled by Owen 

 Glyndwr in his rebellion against Henry IV., and a small single entrenchment, a 

 quarter of a mile off, is said to have been raised by Glyndwr as a shelter for 

 his troops during the attack. It was, however, afterwards more completely 

 destroyed by order of the Long Parliament under the vote for "sleighting" 

 certain castles. Its strongholds were blown up with gunpowder. The ruins are 

 particularly interesting, inasmuch as they consist chiefly of the lof fcy walls of the 

 living apartments, the banquetting hall, and rooms above it. The halves of two 

 strong towers or bastions still hold themselves up loftlily, and masses of masonry 

 here and there prove still how very much ground was formerly occupied by the 

 castle and its precincts. 



From the castle away went the visitors to the church, passing the 

 interesting old bridge "a high and narrow combination of arches of unequal 

 size over the river Colune, or Clune." Oh, why is not its ancient name retained ! 



The church is very remarkable. Its massive square tower has a very 

 imposing effect as you approach it. Its architecture, with that of the aisles, 

 belongs to the Transitional period, whilst the eastern end is pure Norman. It 

 has an internal clerestory and several other architectural peculiarities. It must 

 have undergone many alterations at an early period ; of late years it certainly 

 seems not to have been much interfered with. Its pillars and walls lean in all 

 directions, and the whole building calls loudly for restoration, and so, too, does 

 the Lytuhgate at the churchyard entrance, which is so visibly crumbling away. 



